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[{"type":"text","text":"Could watch this all day. Just put it on auto loop..."}]

Smile 26 8 15

<title>Daily Smile: Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026</title>

Could watch this all day. Just put it on auto loop...

Daily Smile: Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026

 Could watch this all day. Just put it on auto loop...

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 is a new bake stand that opened recently in the Tantalus area. Its name is inspired by the region, according to business owner/baker Hanna Strick.

“Our home is literally perched on the hillside, supported by stilts,” she says. “We tossed around a few ideas (for the business name), trying to have something that highlighted that our products are homemade and made with aloha. When I realized 'homemade' and 'hillside' sounded good together because of the alliteration, I knew it had to be the one.”

Strick has been drawn to baking for as long as she can remember. She recalls that, when she was a child, her mom would make dough for her to play and “bake” with.

“When I was about nine years old, I started baking dog treats for my mom’s coworkers and friends as my first little ‘business,’” she says. “My stepdad, Jason — who’s also my business partner — was a graduate from the Kapi

olani Community College culinary program in 2006. In 2015, I also enrolled in KCC to begin their baking program. Throughout the program, I worked in restaurants, including Fleetwood's on Front Street on Maui one summer; then at Longhi’s; and finally in Honolulu Coffee Company’s production kitchen.”

When she had her son last year, Strick looked for a way to stay at home, but still contribute to her family.

“I noticed some online creators — mostly on the Mainland — started posting about bake stands or farm stands, and my curiosity piqued,” she says. “With my culinary background and love for baking, I thought, ‘Hey, maybe I can try that.’ It took a few months of recipe testing, planning, pricing out items and time blocking my schedule, but we made it.”

[{"type":"text","text":"She says that the Tantalus location also seemed ideal for a bake stand."}]

“I looked into local home bakers that were already operating here on Island, and was surprised to find so many,” she says. “Although, not many are in town, where I live. We are lucky enough to live on a street that gets quite a bit of traffic, heading up to Tantalus from tourists and locals alike.”

Menu staples include the business’s chocolate chip cookies ($5) and banana bread ($5). The classic banana bread features a mini loaf; a chocolate chip version ($6) is also available.

“Everyone is always asking for banana bread, and we have sold out quickly,” Strick says. “We do a classic, chocolate chip and banana nut; there’s more to come in the future, since it has been such a success.”

Strick says her stepdad — known as “Poppop” to her son — also sells his pickles from the stand.

“Poppop’s pickles have been a hit so far with classic dill, spicy, and a pickle of the week,” she says, noting that the business previously showcased a shoyu ginger flavor. 

Other treats include peanut butter cookies, s’mores rice Krispie treats, and seasonal desserts like pumpkin crumble muffins and a pumpkin cream cheese loaf.

The business currently accepts online pre-orders. Homemade on the Hillside is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or until sold out.

“We have plans to possibly expand hours, but for now, Saturday is the day,” Strick says. “This has brought such joy into our life. We have met our neighbors, new friends, our delivery drivers, and people visiting from all over the world. In a time of all-phone-all-the-time, it is so nice to get a sense of community by seeing one another in person, sharing a sweet treat, and talking story.”

Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (or until sold out) on Saturdays

Homemade on the Hillside owner 102826

<title>Homemade on the Hillside is a new bake stand in the Tantalus area</title>

The bake stand is currently open every Saturday. Customers can find a variety of desserts, ranging from chocolate chip cookies and s’mores rice Krispie treats, to pickles in assorted flavors.

Homemade on the Hillside is a new bake stand in the Tantalus area

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

As the Kamehameha girls soccer team takes the pitch for its 2026-2027 season later this month, the defending state champions will be led by a senior class that's already accomplished something extraordinary as a unit. 

All 10 members of the team's senior class are set to play NCAA Division I soccer next year, with each making their commitments official by signing with their respective schools. 

On Thursday morning, 18 Kamehameha seniors gathered at Kekūhaupiʻo Gymnasium to sign with their collegiate destinations in front of family and friends. The soccer team took up the majority of the signing tables, with a total of eight Mainland schools represented among the 10 signees. The full list:

"It's the coolest thing. I think it's exciting," said Montgomery, the who won Hawai‘i Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior after registering 16 goals and seven assists in a 17-1 campaign for the Warriors. "Looking forward to our senior season. All of us are committed and signed, so now we can just worry about our season and just winning."

Beyond the high school season, Kamehameha's players gained additional exposure on the club circuit. Members of the team suited up for local clubs such as Hawai‘i Rush Soccer Club, Leahi Soccer Club, Hawai‘i Surf Soccer Club and more. 

When it came time to commit to a school, players weren't afraid to expand beyond their comfort zones. 

"Although it's really, really far, I really want to play at a big school, a competitive and elite program," Malepeai said of her decision to play for Kentucky of the SEC. "I just knew it was the right choice."

Though each player chose the school best for their respective goals, two players each signed with California Baptist and Wyoming. 

"Avalee is my best friend," Aoki said of fellow Wyoming signee McGuire. "We go to the same school, we play for the same club, and we live in the same town. It's awesome that I'm going with Ava, and just to have someone that's from Hawai‘i in Wyoming because there's not a lot of Hawaii people.

"It's very special that 10 of us are going DI, and I think what's cool is that we all kind of had our own path and our own journey in terms of recruiting, and we're going all over the place around the continent and around the country. It's very special to be a part of such a talented group of girls, especially to represent Kamehameha."

With signing day behind them, the Warriors are prepared to take every team's best shot in the upcoming season. 

"It could be really special. The seniors are really hungry for it this year, we want to go back-to-back," Malepeai said. "Obviously, we're gonna have to compete really hard and work hard. But I feel like we're all working towards the same goal, so I feel like with trust in each other, we'll get the outcome we want."

Kamehameha girls soccer 111226

<title>All 10 Kamehameha girls soccer seniors sign with Division 1 schools</title>

The Warrior seniors were part of an on-campus signing day ceremony on Thursday morning, representing eight different universities on the Mainland.

All 10 Kamehameha girls soccer seniors sign with Division 1 schools

Over 40 high school seniors and their loved ones gathered at the Sheraton Waikīkī Beach Resort at 6 a.m. on Wednesday morning to sign their respective agreements with their future colleges. 

Boys and girls from public and private schools across O‘ahu officially put pen to paper for sports such as softball, women's volleyball, baseball, soccer, golf and wrestling. College coaches consider Hawai‘i a fertile recruiting ground for all the above sports, routinely plucking Island talent to fill their rosters. 

Historically, the same has not applied to men's basketball. Those who have kept track can count on one hand the number of players that signed a Division I men's basketball scholarship out of a Hawai‘i high school in the past decade — Kahuku's Samuta Avea signed with Hawai‘i in the fall of 2016, with Red Raider teammate 

 signing with the Rainbow Warriors the following spring. Additionally, former ‘Iolani standout post Hugh Hogland signed with the University of Portland in April 2017. Then in the fall of 2017, Kahuku's 

Though Hawai‘i did not lack for men's basketball talent, a pair of future Power 4 guards in JJ Mandaquit and Aaron Hunkin-Claytor both departed ‘Iolani and finished their respective high school hoops careers on the Mainland. Mandaquit is currently at the University of Arizona, while Hunkin-Claytor is at USC after spending his first two years at the University of Hawai‘i. Meanwhile, some of the state's best basketball players gravitate towards another sport for college, such as two-time Hawai‘i Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year 

, who is now a defensive tackle on the Utah football team. 

On Wednesday in Waikīkī, perched among the second row of athletes, a true historical anomaly sat among the crowd in Punahou senior Tanoa Scanlan. Scanlan, a 6-foot-6 wing, signed a scholarship agreement with the University of Montana. It was not lost on him in the moment how rare the accomplishment was. 

"It means the world to me," Scanlan told Aloha State Daily. "It shows that the work and all the things that I've done, it's coming to fruition. To be in that group with [other Division I men's basketball signees from Hawai‘i], it means that me and my family are doing something right, and all I want to do is just continue to spread that and hopefully we get that number up in the future."

High school coaches in Hawai‘i have raved about Scanlan's all-around ability and hoops IQ for years — he has ideal height for the sport, is a three-level scorer and has consistently shown a willingness to sacrifice buckets to pass to open teammates. Showings on the Mainland summer circuits attracted heavy interest from Division II schools, both locally and on the Mainland. Though Division I was the goal, Scanlan says he would have been fulfilled playing at the DII level. 

"I wasn't DI or bust," he says. "Coming from Hawai‘i, to play Division I basketball ... to be fully honest, that's something really hard to do. So, my recruiting process was a little bit slow at first."

at the Adidas 3Stripes Gold 17U National Championship in South Carolina, leading Hawai‘i's Team Kekela to a victory over Indiana's EG10 in the championship game with 23 points, six rebounds and five assists. Montana's coaches had been in contact with him over the summer and were able to take in the performance in person. 

After getting invited to take an official visit to the school in September, Montana head coach Travis DeCuire pulled Scanlan and his parents into his office and offered him a scholarship. It was his first Division I offer, and Scanlan promptly committed. With the Grizzlies, the plan for Scanlan is to have his versatility used at multiple positions, whether it be at the wing or even at power forward. 

"I knew it was the right decision. Just super grateful for the staff," Scanlan said. "It hit me for sure when we were with coach DeCuire in his office. All the hours and the years of work just flooded through my brain, and I don't want to say I cried, but I cried when I committed. When I received the offer, it was definitely a crazy feeling for sure. 

"My mom was definitely crying, but it was awesome because that's been the goal, and for so long it seemed so far-fetched. To finally receive that scholarship, everything's paid for, so that was the goal for my family — to get free college so they don't have to worry about it, because my parents have invested so much money in me. To earn that full scholarship, it means the world."

With his college commitment official, Scanlan is hoping to go out a winner with Punahou under new head coach Aukai Wong. The Buffanblu have competed in the HHSAA championship game in each of Scanlan's previous three seasons of varsity basketball, going 1-2. Punahou's one win in that span was in 2025, though Scanlan missed the state tournament with a hand injury. In 2026, the Buffanblu lost on a last-second layup to Kahuku. In his senior season of high school basketball, Scanlan is also hoping to show young players they can still achieve their hoop dreams without leaving the state.

"There was definitely some moments where we were considering [relocating], just because of the goal we had in mind, but Punahou School means the world to me," Scanlan said. "I've been there since I was a kindergartner, and to be able to finish this year out here and graduate from Punahou, I'm just super grateful."

Tanoa Scanlan 111126

<title>Punahou's Tanoa Scanlan signs with University of Montana</title>

Scanlan is the first local prep high schooler in the 2020s to sign with a men's basketball scholarship with an NCAA Division I school. Other prominent hoopers left the Islands in order to do so.

Punahou's Tanoa Scanlan signs with University of Montana

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Aloha Spirit

More than two years in the making, and three years after wildfires devastated the West Maui community, Hawaiian Council's ‘Ulu O Lele, an interim marketplace and community gathering space, has opened 

at the former Outlets of Maui site in Lahaina.

Wildfires ravaged parts of the Valley Isle on 

 through several other areas of Maui, Lahaina saw the worst as an inferno destroyed much of the historic town and killed more than 100 people.

As Maui County noted in July, ‘Ulu O Lele is the first project to bring storefronts back to Lahaina's Front Street after the blaze and will offer an interim home for local businesses, nonprofits, cultural practitioners, farmers and community programming while permanent commercial redevelopment progresses.

Seventeen modular storefronts built in Hilo arrived on Maui and were installed at the nearly 3-acre marketplace ahead of the Nov. 10 grand opening, a recent announcement from Hawaiian Council, formerly known as the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, noted.

According to that announcement, a volunteer, community-led ‘Ulu O Lele Advisory committee selected 24 businesses for the project after reviewing 126 applications; applicants affected by the 2023 wildfires or with a connection to Lahaina were prioritized.

[{"type":"text","text":"In storefront spaces, you'll find, according to Hawaiian Council:"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Meanwhile, the selected food trucks include:"}]

One of the 17 units will serve as the ‘Ulu O Lele office and a business incubator space, offering up "another way for entrepreneurs to participate in the marketplace," Hawaiian Council says.

"During the two-year initiative, economic opportunities will extend beyond individual storefronts to food truck operators, pop-up vendors, local makers and artists through planned entertainment," according to the announcement. "Collectively, this project will draw residents and visitors back to the area and support the long-term return of commercial activity on Front Street, as permanent businesses begin to build back."

“Behind every business is a person or family working to rebuild their livelihood,” Kūhiō Lewis, CEO of Hawaiian Council, said in the announcement. “While we wish we could accommodate every business that applied, ʻUlu o Lele is one step in a much larger effort to restore Lahaina’s economy. This marketplace isn't intended to replace the rebuilding of Front Street, but to create opportunities for businesses to return, earn income, reconnect with customers and support local jobs while that rebuilding continues. Our commitment doesn't end with this first group of vendors. We will continue looking for ways to create opportunities for more Lahaina businesses because we all have a kuleana to help move this recovery forward.”

Sergio Perez and his wife, Lahaina-born-and-raised Brayz Lee are among those rebuilding. According to the announcement, the pair temporarily relocated to Las Vegas after losing their home and belongings in the wildfire, but were able to return to the Valley Isle and start Front St Fresh.

“We wanted to be part of something bigger, something that is going to bring Lahaina back,” said Perez in the announcement. “This is the beginning of something beautiful, I think. And we want to be part of it.”

Hawaiian Council is leading the planning, development and implementation of the roughly $8 million project, with funding from its Kākoʻo Maui Fund and a $4 million grant from HCF’s Maui Strong Fund. 

Knowing that ‘Ulu o Lele is the first project to bring storefronts back to Front Street is "deep kuleana," Lewis told Aloha State Daily 

This is an opportunity to help shape what Lahaina’s business community will look like long-term, so we want to make sure that it is community-involved and something that the community can be proud of."

The ultimate goal with the marketplace, though, is to "

be a bridge and prepare Lahaina and other Maui businesses for any future permanent commercial opportunities," he said at that time. "We want this to be a catalyst to ensure that Front Street will be filled with local small business owners who are able to thrive and make a living by providing authentic products and experiences of Lahaina."

HPM Building Supply constructed 17 modular storefronts in Hilo, the announcement says, noting that the units measure 12-by-20 feet or 12-by-12 feet, providing 240 or 144 square feet of space. Hawaiian Council arranged private shipping through American Marine Corporation to transport the structures to Maui.

Commercial activity in Lahaina has started to tick up in recent months.

Kimo’s Restaurant, a popular waterfront eatery lost in the fire, 

announced its intent to return to Front Street

And in October, Arita Poulson General Contracting announced it would lead the the reconstruction of 612 Front St.

According to an announcement from the contractor last month, the rebuild will closely match the appearance of the buildings lost in the fire and keep both structures within their original footprints.

"Owned by AJI LLC and managed by Pacific Rim Land, the property will include a one-story, 4,400-square-foot commercial building with four street-level bays and a one-story, 310-square-foot detached kiosk," the announcement says, noting that construction is expected to take about six months with tenant build-out to follow. It is expected to open in the summer of 2027. Pacific Whale Foundation will be the building's anchor tenant, the announcement noted.

Arita Poulson also is the general contractor for Lahaina Residential, a 60-home community at 1034 Front Street that 

Lahaina Front Street rainbow 070826

<title>‘Ulu O Lele opens in Lahaina</title>

The interim marketplace and community gathering space has opened at the former Outlets of Maui site, bringing commercial storefronts to Front Street for the first time since the 2023 wildfires.

‘Ulu O Lele opens in Lahaina

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Owners of a shipwrecked yacht are set to pay the state $375,000 in a settlement over a 2023 incident where a yacht ran aground on a coral reef off the Maui coast.

In February 2023, the 94-foot-long yacht named Nakoa, owned and operated by Honolulu-based Noelani Yacht Charters, ran aground after becoming detached from its mooring in Honolua Bay. The vessel remained grounded for about two weeks until a salvage team determined that the yacht could not be salvaged, and scuttled the yacht.

However, in the course of running aground, the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources found that the Nakoa damaged or destroyed at least 119 living coral colonies when running aground, and damaged more than 1,600 square meters of additional “live rock,” or rock on which marine life was growing.

Hawai’i statutes prohibit taking, breaking or damaging any coral or live rock, with fines of up to $1,000 per specimen injured. Consequently, the DLNR initially found Noelani Yacht Charters, its agent Jim Jones, and yacht owners Kevin and Kimberly Albert to be liable for more than $1.7 million in fines, although it recommended that only a total fine of about $117,000 be levied in 2023.

However, following public outcry by West Maui residents over the state’s perceived lenience, the Board of Land and Natural Resources increased the fine assessment to $1.8 million.

That assessment has been tied up in contested case proceedings ever since. The Alberts — from whom Noelani Charters purchased the Nakoa in a 2022 transaction the charter company was still paying off when the boat sank months later — challenged the fines, arguing that they could not be liable for the coral damage because the Nakoa had been stolen at the time of the incident.

In fact, according to the contested case documents, the Alberts had reported the Nakoa stolen on Feb. 17, 2023, three days before the vessel ran aground. The person they accused of stealing the yacht was Jones, who was reportedly using the yacht for a personal trip when it ran aground.

However, in the course of the contested case proceedings throughout 2024 and 2025, the Alberts ultimately agreed to a settlement in which they would pay $375,000 to resolve the DLNR’s claims against them. 

The Division of Aquatic Resources notes that, between this settlement and another in federal court — in which the United States required the Alberts to pay an unspecified sum to cover the U.S. Coast Guard’s removal costs following the grounding — the Alberts will ultimately pay close to $1 million in total for the incident.

However, the settlement applies to the Alberts only. The DLNR retains its claims against Jones and Noelani Charters and the state “maintains [its] pursuit of accountability” against them.

The BLNR will discuss whether to approve the settlement on Friday, Nov. 13.

Nakoa 16x9

<title>Yacht owners, state, reach $375,000 settlement over 2023 grounding incident</title>

The yacht Nakoa damaged coral reefs when it ran aground off Maui in 2023, incurring $1.8 million in fines.

Yacht owners, state, reach $375,000 settlement over 2023 grounding incident

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

 is feeling the heat as it continues efforts toward building a new sports and performance pavilion that will serve students, families and the broader community in Kailua. 

The pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade school located near 

 was recently selected this year for a $9,594,409 

U.S. Department of War Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation

. The program aims to address deficiencies in community infrastructure that supports “service members and their families and the defense communities they live and work in,” 

This marks the first DCIP grant obligated to the state Department of Education, says Candice Frontiera, a former 'Aikahi parent and DOE 

Kailua-Kalāheo complex area. She adds that the school 

serves more than 450 students, 40% of whom are “military connected” —

 submitted its first grant proposal for the project in 2021, then again in 2023, 2024 and 2026.

“The perseverance of the parents and supporters has inspired me over the years,” Frontiera said, 

director is “the original grant writer visionary.”

“We are so appreciative of the support of Col. DeTrinis, Congresswoman Jill Tokuda and state Superintendent Keith Hayashi for their valuable support of this project,” 

In late September, the DOE, MCBH and OLDCC came together to approve the project that would add an outdoor covered area with raised performance stage, sports courts, a quarter-mile path, solar powered lighting, bathrooms and more; however, access to the DCIP grant is contingent upon the school covering all design-related costs estimated at $580,000.

the 'Aikahi Parent-Teacher Association is spearheading fundraising for the project. Frontiera says that thanks to the generosity of the Harold K. Castle Foundation and Chamberlin Family Philanthropy, their overall goal is now $370,000 by March 2027. She notes that students are involved, too, and they will start selling Mānoa Chocolate this month with half of the proceeds going toward the cause. 

“We are actively seeking partners who share our belief that children deserve safe, welcoming and functional spaces where they can learn, gather and thrive,” wrote Alyson Hanson, a current 'Aikahi parent and community advocate. “The response from our community has been extraordinary. In just a short period of time, families, friends and supporters have rallied together and raised significant funds toward the match requirement. The enthusiasm has exceeded expectations, and additional fundraising efforts and grant requests are underway.”

Hanson adds that parents, local businesses and nonprofits, philanthropic and professional partners have shown up for keiki, the community and future generations. For example, her husband, among other parents, have contributed their time and talents toward the planning phase, offering preliminary designs and renderings, feasibility studies and cost estimates.

When asked about timelines for the pavilion project, Frontiera is hopeful for a fall 2031 completion date.

“The DCIP funds were obligated to us, not awarded yet, so everything has to be paid within five years from now, otherwise we could lose the funds. Plus, there

,” she explained. “We’re trying to target this year and next year for the design phase and construction will take a full year after the few months when [DOE’s Facilities Development Branch] goes out to bid. You know it takes a while to get permits here in Hawai

 … so we’re trying to leave a yearlong buffer for things like that and punch list items.”

So far, the 'Aikahi PTA’s approach to fundraising has also included writing letters to potential donors, applying for grants, and getting the word out via 

. The parent group is gearing up for its annual Rock the Dock fundraiser on Nov. 14 at the Kāne

ohe Yaht Club to raise funds for student programs, activities, events and opportunities. 

“As a new principal, I'm incredibly excited to celebrate receiving this generous grant, which will provide meaningful support for our students for years to come,” 'Aikahi Elementary School Principal Ann Berg told ASD by email. “As the spouse of a retired military member, I also know firsthand the profound impact strong, supportive communities have on student resilience. This funding is a wonderful investment in our children's future and our community as a whole.

Ostrem adds that this project is important to military-family quality of life — and that shared infrastructure is essential to both community well-being and mission assurance. 

“Reliable, safe, and welcoming school-community facilities help those families establish support networks during a high-mobility military life [so] Marines and Sailors can remain focused on training, deployments and mission requirements,” she says.

For 'Aikahi PTA member Amy Teseo and parent of three, the proposed improvements would mean

 keeping students on campus and out of the sun or rain for recreation times, while connecting kids through sports and special gatherings.

“I began seeing the greater negative impact of our lacking facilities — assemblies, winter performances, May Day, and countless other special moments were constantly being modified or scaled down because there simply wasn’t a place for our entire school to gather,” 

 “It bothered me to my core. I dream of my youngest daughter being able to one day graduate under the protection of this pavilion. These are the moments our children will remember, and they deserve a space, on their own campus, where those memories can happen.”

'Aikahi Elementary School's sports and performance pavilion project, 

Sept 24 grant meeting on field

<title>Perseverance propels this Kailua elementary school’s facilities project forward  </title>

Located near Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi, 'Aikahi Elementary School recently received a federal obligated grant of $9.5 million to construct its sports and performance pavilion for students and the broader community. Now, the PTA is seeking to raise $370,000 for the design phase required to access the grant and keep the project alive.

Daily Smile: Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026

ASD Staff

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Daily Smile: Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026

Authors

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